Speech #1050144225

Asian Pacific Americans represent a broad range of ethnic groups. Their histories are as diverse as the lands of their origin. The earliest immigrants--Chinese. Japanese. Asian Indians. Koreans. and Filipinosand the most recent refugeesVietnamese. Laotians. and Cambodiansall experienced similar. yet unique journeys as they crossed the Pacific to venture to a new land of opportunity. Opportunities. however. were not as plentiful as they would have hoped. From the Chinese Exclusion Laws. which restricted immigration on a racial basis. to Executive Order 9066. which resulted in the internment of more than 110.000 Japanese Americans and their immigrant relatives. life in America. at times. proved to be a nightmare rather than the promised American Dream. But despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. these early intrepid immigrants toiled and sacrificed in order to make this country their own and to preserve the American dream for their American children. They helped build our railroads. labored on our farms. worked endless factory hours. and formed the backbone of many small businesses. Today. even more so than in the past.